News: Marines see their shadow on Groundhog Day job tour

Gunnery Sgt. Jeremiah Francis, a CNATT instructor who led students through the CNATT facility, teaches Shane Wilson, a Junior at Havelock High School, and Kyle Sizemore, a Senior at New Bern High School, about the AV-8B Harrier Feb. 2. Approximately 100 students from Craven County schools came to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point for a chance to follow Marines from various shops throughout the air station.

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - For 18 Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point area high schoolers, Groundhog Day took on a whole new meaning Feb. 2, focusing less on the procrastination of winter weather and more on the enlightenment of a potential future as a Marine.

The students came aboard MCAS Cherry Point for the air station’s annual job shadow day. They shadowed Marines from station Joint Public Affairs Office, combat camera, the Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, Marine Attack Squadron 231 and various other departments.

“It’s refreshing to have high school students come through,” said Gunnery Sgt. Jeremiah Francis a CNATT instructor who led students through the CNATT facility. “We teach students what we do on a daily basis.”

Francis added that the tours are good because seeing what Marines and Sailors do everyday can help the students make a more informed decision on what they want to do after high school.

In interacting with the Marines, the students were able to get a feel for a broad spectrum of activities by talking to both junior and senior enlisted and commissioned personnel.

“Sometimes what could really affect them is how they relate,” said Staff Sgt. John Voughn a CNATT instructor. “The senior enlisted could potentially show them what they could aspire to be, while at the same time it may be easier for a 16 or 17-year-old to approach a 19 or 20-year-old junior enlisted Marine.”